![\"Macrame](\"http:\/\/dollarstorecrafts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/pumpkin9-580x490.jpg\")
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It all started a couple of weeks ago when I posted a picture on Instagram of a dollar store pumpkin I had painted black.\u00a0 It turns out Carissa had also bought a dollar store foam pumpkin and painted it black.\u00a0 One thing led to another and the next thing we knew, a challenge was laid out:\u00a0 who could make a cooler black pumpkin?<\/p>\n
Then I knew I had to come up with something amazing.\u00a0 But what?\u00a0 I decided to go back to my crafty roots and do one of the things I first loved as a kid:\u00a0 Macrame!\u00a0 I love how a few basic knots are enough to turn plain objects into works of art.\u00a0 I thought that wrapping the pumpkin in macrame might be reminiscent of spider webs, so I grabbed a ball of white yarn and started tying.<\/p>\n
Project estimate:<\/span><\/p>\n Total:\u00a0 $1 and up<\/strong><\/p>\n *A note on yarn selection:\u00a0 The yarn you choose will have a big effect on how your finished project looks.\u00a0 I chose to use cotton yarn because it isn’t as fuzzy as most other yarns.\u00a0 This gives the project a clean, modern look.\u00a0 It is also easier to untie than some other yarns in the event of a mistake!<\/em><\/p>\n Start with a basic foam pumpkin.\u00a0 I used a carvable pumpkin from Dollar Tree.<\/p>\n Paint the pumpkin with craft paint.\u00a0 I used black paint for mine, but you can change it up and do this in any colors you want!\u00a0 The paint I used is formulated for outdoor use, so if I decide to put it out on my porch I don’t have to worry about the paint fading or peeling in the elements.\u00a0 This, or course, it totally optional; any craft paint will do!<\/p>\n Use a piece of string to measure the distance from the pumpkin stem to the bottom of the pumpkin; measure and cut a piece of string that is about 5 times that length.\u00a0 Cut a bunch more pieces the same length; the number you will need depends on the size of your pumpkin.\u00a0 I used 22 strings to get around my pumpkin.\u00a0 Make sure you work in even numbers, and cut one of the strings a few inches longer than the rest.<\/p>\n Working around the longer string, loop each of the rest of the strings around it to form a series of knots.\u00a0 Loop the strings at the center point and pull the ends through the loop to make a knot as shown.\u00a0 Place a pony bead between each knot to create spacers.\u00a0 You will use the same number of beads as you have strings (so I used 22).<\/p>\n Once all of the strings are knotted around the longer string, tie the ends of the longer string together to form a loop.\u00a0 Make sure this loop is large enough to fit around the stem of your pumpkin.\u00a0 Use a couple small dabs of glue to hold the ring in place in top of the pumpkin.<\/p>\n Now comes the knotting!\u00a0 You will notice that your strings are in pairs; take a string from one pair and a string from an adjacent pair and tie a square knot.\u00a0 Continue around the pumpkin until you have tied a square knot using each set of strings.\u00a0 The knots should look like the photo above.\u00a0 (Learn how to tie a square knot here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Make another round of macrame in the same fashion; use one string from each pair knotted in the previous round so that the knots are in a staggered pattern.\u00a0 Repeat until you have knotted all the way around the pumpkin to the bottom.<\/p>\n When you reach the bottom of the pumpkin, trim the excess ends of the strings and use a little bit of glue to hold them in place on the bottom of the pumpkin, as shown.<\/p>\n After the glue dries, it is ready to display!\u00a0 I put mine on top of a milk glass candy dish full of candy corn to give it a bit of a whimsical twist.<\/p>\n Looking for more pumpkin crafts?\n
![\"Dollar](\"http:\/\/dollarstorecrafts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/pumpkin1-580x439.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Painted](\"http:\/\/dollarstorecrafts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/pumpkin2-580x460.jpg\")
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